Pathways to Initial Teacher Licenses. Applicants shall meet the requirements of one pathway to earn initial teacher licensure. Maryland Approved Program. Teacher candidates who complete a Maryland approved educator preparation program as set forth in COMAR 13A.07.06 shall meet the following requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher; Completion of an approved program as set forth in COMAR 13A.07.06; Documentation of one of the following: Passing score as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a basic literacy skills assessment as approved by the State Board of Education; Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the most recently earned degree; or Three years of effective evaluations from a local school system in Maryland. Passing scores as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a content licensure test approved by the State Board of Education; Passing scores as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a reading instruction licensure test approved by the State Board of Education, or attestation of proficiency through observation completed by a Department-recognized assessor using a Department-provided observation tool; and Meet one of the following qualifications: Passing score as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a nationally recognized, portfolio-based performance assessment approved by the State Board of Education; or Completion of a comprehensive local school system teacher induction program that meets the requirements listed under §B(2) of this regulation. In-District Training Program. Teacher candidates who are hired as a teacher of record in a Maryland local school system may complete a Department-approved in-district training program. Candidates seeking licensure under the in-district pathway shall meet the following requirements: Possession of a conditional license in the subject area and at the grade level of the license sought. Demonstration of content knowledge by completing the following: Bachelor’s degree or higher related to the field of the license sought; Bachelor's degree or higher in any field and a minimum of 24 semester hours of content coursework related to the license sought, which may be completed in-person, virtually, synchronously, and/or asynchronously; or Bachelor's degree or higher in any field and passing scores as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a content licensure test approved by the State Board of Education Completion of a Maryland induction program under COMAR 13A.07.01 that includes: On-site supervision and coaching; Ongoing instructional mentoring during the induction; and An effective, or comparable, rating on a summative evaluation of teaching performance at the end of the induction period. Completion of a Department-approved sequence of pedagogical coursework, which may be completed in-person, virtually, synchronously, and/or asynchronously, as follows: The teaching candidate shall ensure that this sequence of coursework is aligned to the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium standards; and The district and coursework provider shall agree to a memorandum of understanding. Attestation from the district training program supervisor, or designee, school principal, and coursework provider, that the candidate is prepared for licensure. Special Provisions. Candidates seeking licensure in the areas of elementary education, early childhood education, special education, and English to Speakers of Other Languages, shall complete additional requirements, as follows: Candidates who fulfill §A(2)(b)(i) or (ii) of this regulation shall present 6 semester hours of coursework in each of the content areas of English, mathematics, science, and social studies; or Candidates who fulfill §A(2)(b)(iii) of this regulation shall submit passing scores on an approved elementary assessment that includes subtests in the content areas of English, mathematics, science, and social studies, each of which equals 6 semester hours of credit in that content area; and Passing score on a reading instruction test, approved by the State Board of Education, or provide attestation of proficiency through observation completed by a Department-recognized assessor using a Department-provided observation tool. Experienced Nonpublic School Teacher. Experienced teacher candidates working in Maryland nonpublic schools approved under COMAR 13A.09.09 shall meet the following requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher related to the field of the license sought; Verification of 5 years of effective teaching experience in the field and at the grade level of the license sought at a Maryland nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.09; Meet one of the following qualifications: Passing score as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a nationally recognized, portfolio-based performance assessment approved by the State Board of Education; An effective, or comparable, rating on a year-end evaluation if the individual is employed by a Maryland local school system, State-operated school, or approved nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10; Complete a comprehensive induction program under §B(2) of this regulation if the individual is employed by a Maryland local school system; or Hold a National Board Certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and Special Provision. Candidates seeking licensure in the areas of elementary education, early childhood education, special education, and English to Speakers of Other Languages, shall submit of a passing score on a reading instruction test, approved by the State Board of Education, or provide attestation of proficiency through observation completed by a Department-recognized assessor using a Department-provided observation tool. Out-of-State Teacher Preparation Program. Teacher candidates who complete a teacher preparation program in another state or foreign country shall meet the following requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher, or a U.S. equivalent of a foreign degree; Complete a teacher preparation program, to include a clinical internship, approved to lead to licensure in another state or foreign country, in the license area being sought; Meet one of the following qualifications: Passing score as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a nationally recognized, portfolio-based performance assessment approved by the State Board of Education; An effective, or comparable, rating on a year-end evaluation if the individual is employed by a Maryland local school system, State-operated school, or approved nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10; Complete a comprehensive induction program under §B(2) of this regulation if the individual is employed by a Maryland local school system; or Hold a National Board Certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and Special Provision. Candidates seeking licensure in the areas of elementary education, early childhood education, special education, and English to Speakers of Other Languages, shall submit a passing score on a reading instruction test, approved by the State Board of Education, or attestation of proficiency through observation completed by a Department-recognized assessor using a Department-provided observation tool. Out-of-State License. Teacher candidates who hold a valid professional license/certificate from another state or foreign country shall meet the following requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher, or a U.S. equivalent for a foreign degree; Valid, professional license or certificate from another state or foreign country in the license area being sought; Meet one of the following qualifications: Passing score as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a portfolio-based performance assessment approved by the State Board of Education; An effective, or comparable, rating on a year-end evaluation if the individual is employed by a Maryland local school system, State-operated school, or approved nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10; Complete a comprehensive induction program under §B(2) of this regulation if the individual is employed by a Maryland local school system; or Hold a National Board Certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and Special Provision. Candidates seeking licensure in the areas of elementary education, early childhood education, special education, and English to Speakers of Other Languages, shall submit a passing score on a reading instruction test, approved by the State Board of Education, or provide an attestation of proficiency through observation completed by a Department-recognized assessor using a Department-provided observation tool. National Board Certificate. Teacher candidates who hold a National Board Certificate shall meet the following requirements: Bachelor’s degree or higher; and National Board Certificate issued from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, for which a comparable Maryland license exists. Fine Arts Transcript Analysis. Individuals with content expertise in the areas of art, dance, music, or theater shall: Obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher in the fine arts content area being sought; Obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher in a fine arts area related to the area of licensure being sought, and 3 years of satisfactory content-related occupational experience, which may include satisfactory post-secondary teaching experience; or Obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher in any field with: At least 24 semester hours of content coursework in the fine arts license area sought; or A passing score as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a content assessment approved by the State Board of Education and 3 years of content-related occupational experience, which may include satisfactory post-secondary teaching experience in the area to be taught; Complete 21 semester hours of credits of professional education coursework from an institution of higher education or through Department-approved continuing professional development credits, to include 3 credits for each of the following: Methods of teaching; Introduction to special education; Human growth and development; Assessment; Literacy in the content area; Culturally responsive teaching/multicultural education/strategies for multilingual learners; and Classroom management; and Meet one of the following qualifications: Obtain a passing score as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a nationally recognized, portfolio-based performance assessment approved by the State Board of Education; Obtain effective, or comparable, ratings on two, year-end evaluations if the individual is employed by a Maryland local school system, State-operated school, or approved nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10; or Complete a comprehensive induction program under §B(2) of this regulation if the individual is employed by a Maryland local school system. Secondary Content Transcript Analysis. To earn a 7-12 grade band license, individuals with secondary content expertise shall meet the following requirements: Obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher: In the content area being sought; In any field with a minimum of 24 semester hours of content coursework in the area of license sought; In any field with 3 years of content-related occupational experience and a passing score as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a content assessment approved by the State Board of Education; or In any field with 3 years of experience teaching at an accredited institution of higher education in the content area sought; and Complete 21 semester hours of credits of professional education coursework from an institution of higher education or through Department-approved continuing professional development credits, to include 3 credits for each of the following: Methods of teaching; Introduction to special education; Human growth and development; Assessment; Literacy in the content area; Culturally responsive teaching/multicultural education/strategies for multilingual Learners; and Classroom management; and Meet one of the following qualifications: Obtain a passing score as established by the State Superintendent of Schools on a nationally recognized, portfolio-based performance assessment approved by the State Board of Education; Obtain effective, or comparable, ratings on two, year-end evaluations if the individual is employed by a Maryland local school system, State-operated school, or approved nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10; or Complete a comprehensive induction program under § B(2) of this regulation if the individual is employed by a Maryland local school system. Special Provisions. The Department shall evaluate credits from institutions in other countries for comparability of degree and coursework by an independent agency authorized to analyze foreign credentials and designated by the Department. The evaluation is final. Comprehensive Induction Program. A comprehensive induction program shall: Be developed by a local school system, either independently or collaboratively with other local school systems; Be approved by the Department; Last the lesser of 3 years or the amount of time a teacher holds a conditional license; and Include a locally developed portfolio component that is aligned with the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium Standards.